Pike & San Isabel National Forests
Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands

USDA Forest Service
Pike & San Isabel
National Forests
Cimarron & Comanche
National Grasslands
2840 Kachina Drive
Pueblo, CO 81008
719-553-1400

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
719-553-1404

News Release

USDA Forest Service
Rocky Mountain Region
Pike, San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron, Comanche National Grasslands

South Platte Ranger District
19316 Goddard Ranch Court
Morrison, Colorado 80465
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/spl/

Contacts: Kris Heiny, South Platte District, 303-275-5636
Fred Patten , South Platte District, 303-275-5641
Barb Timock, Public Affairs Officer, 719-553-1415

Prescribed Burns to Put Smoke In The Sky Over Southwest Denver

MORRISON, Colo., September 25, 2006…The USDA Forest Service-South Platte District plans to conduct two large prescribed (area) burns this fall on the Pike and San Isabel National Forests 15 miles southwest of Sedalia. The prescribed burns will occur in ponderosa pine and Douglas fir vegetation next to private property south of Sprucewood in the Noddles area.

Smoke from the area is expected to be visible to many of the southwest metro Denver area residents. The burns will be low-intensity burns, the second phase of treatment designed to provide an additional level of safety from wildfires for nearby residents and property. The burns will also promote better habitat for wildlife and reduce competition for nutrients among the remaining trees and vegetation, creating a healthier forest. The first treatment was a mechanical thinning in 2004 to reduce overly dense vegetation and smaller trees.

Each day that the weather is acceptable for burning, the Forest Service may light up to 250 acres with the area continuing to burn for two to three days. During this time, firefighters will monitor the burn to insure that the fire stays within the designated area. Smoke may be visible from the Denver area during each of these days.

Due to the complexities of conducting prescribed burns, the Forest Service will not know until just few days ahead of time for when the burn can take place. Factors such as wet or dry ground, wind speed, and what direction the smoke will blow determine when the burn can take place. Each prescribed burn is expected to be completed in five to seven days once the necessary conditions take place.

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